Jackson Mayor Indicted on Bribery Charges

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba has pleaded not guilty to federal bribery charges stemming from a scheme involving undercover FBI agents posing as real estate developers. The indictment also includes Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and former City Council President Aaron Banks, all of whom face conspiracy and bribery allegations associated with a hotel project planned near the city's convention center. Lumumba, in office since 2017, claims the charges are politically motivated to undermine his 2025 reelection campaign and insists he has never accepted a bribe. City Council member Angelique Lee, who resigned in August, has already pleaded guilty to related charges. The investigation has been ongoing, with federal agents previously raiding Owens’ office and a cigar bar he owns. Lumumba's supporters are rallying around him as he vows to continue his duties as mayor while defending against the allegations.